Rail joint plug



Jan. 3, 139. R. J. MULRONEY RAIL JOINT PLUG Filed March 51, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jim/enjoi- Ezc/Za/dJ/Vzdfmz R. J. MULRONEY Filed March 31, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT QFFlCE RAIL JOINT PLUG Illinois Application March 31,

8 Claims.

The invention relates to rail joint structure and has more particular reference to a rail joint plug adapted to be inserted between the web of a rail and one of the splice bars forming the rail joint.

A major cause requiring the repair and replacement of rails has been the deterioration of the web and base flange of the rail caused by a rusting and eating away of the metal due to the 10 action of the brine solution deposited thereon by refrigerator cars. In the packing of refrigerator cars with ice, a quantity of salt is added which produces a brine as soon as any melting of the ice occurs. As a result of leakage of the brine 15 from the refrigerator cars during travel, the rails are constantly sprayed with drops of the brine solution which, over a period of time, causes serious rusting and deterioration of the rail. The deterioration is concentrated at the 20 rear end of the splice bar on the outside of the rail at each joint, due to the flat end of the splice bar which tends to deflect the drops of brine striking said flat end on to the base flange of the rail. Accordingly, the life of the rail is materially 25 shortened since the same must be replaced as soon as the first signs of any serious rusting or deterioration are in evidence.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention resides in the provision of a rail joint plug for 30 protecting that portion of the web and base flange of the rail adjacent the rear end of the splice bars against the concentrated corrosive action of the brine from refrigerator cars.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a rail joint plug for the purposes described that can be economically manufactured from a mixture of asphalt and a filler.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel 40 features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In. the drawings which illustrate an embodi- 5 ment of the invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a conventional rail joint showing the plug of the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rail plug of the invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially 55 along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

1937, Serial No. 134,002

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a rail joint showing a modified form of rail joint plug applied thereto;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 6-45 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 1-1 of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the plug of the invention is adapted to be associated with the conventional type of rail joint, such as shown in Figures 1 and 5, wherein ill indicates generally rail sections each having a web portion H and a base l2. At a rail joint, formed by the abutting ends of two rail sections, the said rail sections are joined by splice bars M. The splice bars in addition to effectively joining together the abutting ends of rail sections also prevent excessive rail movement therebetween and excessive rail movement between the members and the ties upon which they are disposed. The fastening elements for securing the splice bars M to the web H of the rail sections may comprise bolts 85 to which are threaded the nuts is. As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 6, the bolts l5 pass through openings in the splice bars and through an opening in the web of the rail. Certain of the openings as I! have an elliptical shape to provide for the contraction and expansion of the rail section.

As previously explained the invention contemplates the provision of a rail joint plug for protecting the web and base flange of the rail against the concentrated corrosive action of the brine deposited thereon by refrigerator cars traveling on the rails. In the preferred form of the invention, Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the rail joint plug designated in its entirety by 20, consists of a large head portion 2! and a shank portion 22, the latter portion being inserted between the splice bar and the web of the rail for the purpose of associating the plug with the rail joint structure. The shank portion will have a length so as to terminate immediately adjacent the outside fastening bolt l5 and the thickness and width of said shank portion will conform to the space existing between the splice bar and the web of the rail. Therefore with the rail plug in place, the shank portion thereof will occupy substantially the entire space existing between the bar and the web of the rail up to the outside fastening bolt.

7 The head of the present plug is provided with base flange of the rail.

bar on the outside of the rail. The rail sections accordingly have a materially longer life and cropping of the ends of the rail sections is eliminated since rapid deterioration adjacent the rear end of the splice bar is eliminated.

Referring to Figures 5 to 8 inclusive the rail joint sections H! are joined by the splice bars M by fastening bolts IS in a manner as previously described with respect to Figures 1 and 2. The rail joint plug 30 adapted to be associated with this form of joint is provided with a shank 32 having a slot 33 formed in the end thereof. By reason of the slot, the shank of the plug can extend inwardly a greater distance than would otherwise be the case, since the slot is aligned with the fastening elements l5 and the outside element is received by said slot. The head SI of the modified plug is provided with a beveled surface 34 which is vertical for the entire height of the plug.

The rail joint plug of the invention may be manufactured from waste material held together by a suitable binder, such as asphalt. It is preferred that the plug be made of a mixture of asphalt, asbestos and a filler. The proportions of asphalt will vary depending on the quantity and characteristics of the filler employed. When clay is used as a filler in proportions of approximately 20%, ithas been found that asphalt in proportions of 60% and asbestos in proportions of approximately 20% are required. Other fillers may be substituted for the clay and a very satisfactory product has been found to result with the proportions of asphalt being varied to suit the particular filler. Accordingly, as a substitute for the clay, fullers earth has been used, ground slate, brick and other ceramic materials and scrap material from shingle making plants has also been found satisfactory.

In applying the plug to rail joint structure, the web and base flange of the rail section adjacent the rear end of the outside tie plate is thoroughly coated with an asphalt cement and the plug is then associated therewith by inserting the shank end thereof between the web and the splice bar. In order to more thoroughly secure the plug in place, it may be desirable to thoroughly coat the shank before insertion of the shank.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5 it will be assumed that the train will travel over the section of track disclosed in a direction from left to right. The brine leaking from refrigerator cars is thrown forward by the momentum of the traveling car. Also, due to gavity and the action of wind c1u-- rent, the drops are caused to travel downwardly and inwardly towards the rail. This accounts for the fact that the plug is associated with the rear face of the splice bar on the outside of the rail. Heretofore the drops of brine have been deflected downwardly by said fiat face on to the base of the rail causing rapid deterioration of this particular section. With the plug of the invention in place, the drops of brine discharged from refrigerator cars will strike the beveled surfaces 23, 24 and 25 provided by the plug of Figure 1 and surface 34 of the plug of Figure 5, which have an angularity and are arranged so as to deflect the drops outwardly of the rail.

I claim:

1. The combination with rail joint structure including splice bars, of a rail joint plug having an enlarged head end and a shank portion adapted to fit between the web of the rail and a splice bar to thereby position the head end adjacent the end of said splice bar, and said head end having a beveled surface sloping outwardly to direct drops of corrosive liquid falling thereon to the outside of the rail.

2. The combination with rail joint structure including splice bars, of a rail joint plug having an enlarged head end and a shank portion adapted to fit between the web of the rail and a splice bar to thereby position the head end adjacent the end of said splice bar, and said head end having a beveled surface for directing drops of corrosive liquid falling thereon to the outside of the rail, said beveled surface sloping outwardly and forming an angle of approximately or more with a plane normal to the web of the rail.

3. The combination with a rail joint structure including splice bars, of a rail joint plug adapted to be associated therewith in a manner whereby said plug forms a continuation of the rear end of a splice bar, and said plug having its end beveled to form outwardly sloping surfaces for directing drops of corrosive liquid falling thereon to the outside of the rail.

4. A rail joint plug for the purposes described, comprising an enlarged head end portion and a shank portion, said shank portion having a size to fit between the web of a rail and a splice bar secured thereto, and said head end portion having its end beveled to form a surface sloping outwardly.

5. A rail joint plug for the purposes described, comprising an enlarged head end portion and a shank portion, said shank portion having a size to fit between the web of a rail and 2, splice bar secured thereto, and said head end portion having a beveled end surface sloping outwardly and forming an angle of at least 30 with a plane normal to the web of the rail.

6. A rail joint plug for the purposes described, comprising a head end portion and a shank portion, said head portion having its end beveled to form a surface sloping outwardly with respect to the web of the rail, said shank portion being adapted to fit between the web and a splice bar associated with the rail, and said plug consisting of asbestos, a filler and an asphalt binder.

7. A rail joint plug for the purposes described, comprising a head end portion and a shank portion, said head portion having its end beveled to form a surface sloping outwardly with respect to the web of the rail, said shank portion being adapted to fit between the web and a splice bar associated with the rail, and said plug consisting of asbestos, clay and an asphalt binder.

8. A rail joint plug for the purposes described, comprising a head end portion and a shank portion, said head portion having its end beveled to form a surface sloping outwardly with respect to the web of the rail, said shank portion being adapted to fit between the web and a splice bar associated with the rail, and said plug consisting of asbestos, clay and an asphalt binder in proportions of approximately 20% asbestos, 20% clay and the remainder asphalt.

RICHARD J. MULRONEY. 

